Howard Rollins facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Howard Rollins
Rollins in Ragtime, 1981
Born	Howard Ellsworth Rollins Jr. (1950-10-17)October 17, 1950 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Died	December 8, 1996(1996-12-08) (aged 46) New York City, U.S.
Resting place	Woodlawn Cemetery, Baltimore
Nationality	American
Alma mater	Towson State University
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1970–1996

Howard Ellsworth Rollins Jr. (born October 17, 1950 – died December 8, 1996) was a talented American actor. He performed in plays, movies, and TV shows. Howard Rollins was well-known for playing Andrew Young in the 1978 TV miniseries King. He also played George Haley in the 1979 miniseries Roots: The Next Generations.

Rollins earned praise for his role as Coalhouse Walker Jr. in the 1981 film Ragtime. He was Captain Davenport in the 1984 movie A Soldier's Story. Many people also remember him as Virgil Tibbs in the TV crime drama In the Heat of the Night. Howard Rollins received nominations for an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and an Emmy during his acting career. He passed away at age 46 from health complications.

Early Life and Education

Howard Ellsworth Rollins Jr. was born on October 17, 1950, in Baltimore, Maryland. He was the youngest of four children. His mother, Ruth, worked at home, and his father, Howard Ellsworth Rollins Sr., was a steelworker. After finishing high school, Howard studied theater at Towson University.

Acting Career Highlights

In 1970, Rollins left college to act in the PBS show Our Street. He played a character named "Slick." In 1974, he moved to New York City to pursue acting. There, he appeared in several Broadway plays. These included We Interrupt This Program (1975) and The Mighty Gents (1978). He also acted in the TV miniseries King and Roots: The Next Generations.

In 1981, Rollins made his first movie appearance in Ragtime. His performance was highly praised. It earned him a nomination for an Academy Award for best supporting actor. He also received Golden Globe nominations for his role. The next year, he was nominated for a Daytime Emmy for his work on the TV show Another World.

In 1984, Rollins starred in the film A Soldier's Story. This role helped him get the part of Virgil Tibbs in the TV series In the Heat of the Night. The show started airing in 1988. Rollins was a main character for many seasons. He later returned for several guest appearances in 1993 and 1994.

After his time on In the Heat of the Night, Rollins continued acting. In 1995, he appeared in a guest role on New York Undercover. He also had a role in the film Drunks. In 1996, he was a guest star on Remember WENN. His last acting role was in the 1996 TV movie Harambee!.

Later Years and Passing

Howard Rollins passed away on December 8, 1996. He was 46 years old. He died in New York City from complications related to lymphoma. His funeral was held in Baltimore on December 13.

Legacy and Recognition

On October 25, 2006, a wax statue of Howard Rollins was revealed. It was first shown at the Senator Theatre in Baltimore. Now, the statue can be seen at Baltimore's Great Blacks in Wax Museum. Howard Rollins is a distant relative of baseball player Jimmy Rollins.

Filmography